Authorities in the Philippines are searching for Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban, who has gone into hiding following accusations of espionage on behalf of China. Over the weekend, police were unable to execute an arrest warrant as Ms. Guo was not found at any of her known locations.
Ms. Guo’s troubles began when scam centers were discovered in Bamban in March. These centers, concealed within online casinos catering to mainland Chinese, sparked suspicions regarding Ms. Guo’s activities and her Chinese heritage. Allegations have emerged suggesting she may be acting as an asset or spy for Beijing, a narrative that has captivated the nation amid ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Senate ordered Ms. Guo’s arrest, along with several of her family members, after she failed to attend hearings regarding the scam centers. Senator Risa Hontiveros, leading the investigation, urged Ms. Guo to come forward, stating, “Show yourselves. Hiding will not erase the truth.”
Ms. Guo, however, has denied any wrongdoing. She maintains that she was raised on a pig farm by her Chinese father and Filipina mother and asserts her identity as a Filipino. In contrast, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian claims that immigration records reveal her real name to be Guo Hua Ping, suggesting she is a Chinese national evading arrest. “Our tracker teams will continue looking for her,” Gatchalian said.
On the day the arrest warrant was issued, Ms. Guo addressed her constituents via Facebook, indicating her imminent absence. “Sorry for not being physically present with each one of you. I miss you all,” she wrote, emphasizing that her absence would be temporary. She expressed no regrets about entering politics despite the personal toll it has taken.
Ms. Guo’s lawyer, Nicole Jamilla, assured local media that her client intends to cooperate with the investigations. Besides the Senate inquiry, Ms. Guo is also under a separate anti-graft investigation, which has led to her suspension.
The uncovered scam centers highlight how Philippine Online Gaming Operations (Pogos) have been exploited for various criminal activities, including text scams and human trafficking. These operations became prominent during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who maintained close ties with China, but they are now under intense scrutiny by the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos.
Should it be proven that Ms. Guo is indeed a Chinese citizen, she would be disqualified from serving as mayor, as Philippine law requires elected officials to be Filipino citizens. Despite these controversies, Ms. Guo enjoys significant support from her constituents, who appreciate her social outreach programs. “Ms. Guo brought change to Bamban, and its people are thankful,” said resident Erica Miclat on ANC television.
